A thug who chased a love rival down the street – only for his intended victim to be rescued by his mother – has failed in a bid to reduce his sentence.

Micah Thompson saw red after seeing his ex-girlfriend with a new partner in October 2014.

Thompson, aged 27, of Keepers Close, Firth Park, lay in wait for his victim and ‘started chasing him down the street’ when he emerged from his ex’s home, London’s Appeal Court heard.

Judges said he was only ‘prevented from violence’ by the timely arrival of his victim’s mother, who hit him with her car.

Thompson was given a 12-month jail term after admitting affray at Sheffield Crown Court in April, but challenged his sentence on the grounds it was too harsh.

However, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said this was not the case and his crime was ‘born of jealousy’.

He said: “He was only prevented from inflicting physical violence by the intervention of the victim’s mother. It is unarguable this sentence is manifestly excessive.”

Sheffield Crown Court heard in April that Thompson had been out on licence at the time of the incident. He had been jailed for 44 months for two counts of affray in November 2013 after being involved in gang attacks on people owing drug debts, but was released in June 2014.

After he was arrested following the incident in October 2014, he was recalled to jail. The 12-month sentence he was given for the latest affray was concurrent to his earlier ongoing sentence, which is due to be completed in September 2016.

Thompson was also given a restraining order preventing him approaching the victim and other family members.